Free The Crimson Vault (The Traveler's Gate Trilogy) by Will Wight

clusters of yellow quartz embedded in the walls flared to life, casting the halls in a dim golden light. When he got too far away, the lights farthest behind him winked out, so only the sections of the hall where he needed light were illuminated.
    The Eldest followed. When he stood next to a glowing quartz, he looked ordinary, his dark gray cloak fully visible. But when he stepped into shadow…
It was as though he stepped through shadow instead. There were perhaps twenty paces between each quartz-light, and the gaps between were filled with darkness. But when the Eldest left one pool of light, he appeared immediately in the next one, seemingly not having crossed the shadow between.
    Kai wondered what would happen if the lights failed entirely. He missed his dolls very much right then.
    The Eldest finally decided to speak, perhaps in response to Kai’s earlier question. “Many of the Nye cannot leave the House. They are bound to it too closely. But as the Eldest of my kind, there is little I cannot do. Little I do not see.”
    Kai made a curious noise in his throat, as though he was only mildly interested, but that was the most terrifying thing anyone had told him in years.
    The thought inspired a surge of anger. Why should he pretend that the Eldest didn’t bother him? He had obviously intended to frighten Kai, or he would have remained hidden. Why should he tiptoe around the Eldest’s anger, pretending not to be frightened?
    He knew why, of course. The Eldest could be terrifying, when he chose. But at the moment, Kai didn’t care. Both of them knew that Kai hated the Eldest, so why act otherwise?
    “Why did you decide to haunt me, Eldest?” Kai asked.
    The Eldest laughed again. Twice in one day—something horrible must have happened to put the Eldest in such a good mood.
    “The son of Kalman,” the Eldest said, “has faced his Overlord. Some four weeks past.”
    Kai turned sharply, looking straight into the Nye’s hood. “Is he alive?”
    “No.”
    Kai drew in a breath. He had only ever agreed to train Simon once Caela had told him of Indirial’s unfortunate offer, and he had never agreed to help Simon hinder the sacrifice. In fact, he had withheld information that would have made Simon’s job much easier. He had made his choice over twenty years ago, after all. He would be a hypocrite if he changed his mind now.
    But maybe, if he had just told Simon what he knew, the boy would still be alive.
    Surprisingly, Kai actually felt a wash of guilt at the thought. Then it occurred to him that Azura was free, with Simon’s death. Maybe his dolls, his beloved little ones, would finally take him back…
    He felt guilty for that, too. Why should he? The dolls were his, after all. But the feeling did not go away.
    The Eldest shook his head, sadly. “Yes, it is a tragedy,” he rasped. “His wife has taken over his realm. From what I can see, she is far better organized than her husband, though she is not a Traveler.”
    For a moment Kai stood, uncomprehending. Then a surge of anger swept through him, and he summoned a scimitar from the Valinhall armory. The sword flashed into his hand, and he swept it into the Eldest’s neck.
    The Eldest ducked, almost casually. He cackled as he did.
    “The boy survived,” the Nye continued. “But he has killed many Damascan Travelers. He is wanted throughout the Kingdom. If only he had someone to guide him. To protect him. If only the few remaining Dragons had their leader.”
    The Eldest was trying to rile him, for some reason, and the worst of it was that he was succeeding. Kai needed to put a stop to it.
    “Where is Mithra?” Kai asked.
    The Eldest shrugged. “At the center of the temple. You know that better than I.”
    Kai pointed the scimitar at him. “Where?”
    The Nye’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. He walked over to a blank stretch of dark sandstone wall, and placed one black sleeve against it.
    “Here,” the Eldest said.
    Kai banished the scimitar,